Former French President Nicolas Sarkozy Elected Opposition Party Leader

Former French President Nicolas Sarkozy Elected Opposition Party Leader

Former French president Nicolas Sarkozy, who has made headlines recently for his call to repeal the country’s same-sex marriage law that was passed last year, has been elected as leader of the UMP opposition party.

BBC reports:

SarkozyMore than 150,000 party members – over 50% – voted in the election, despite the process being slowed down by a cyber attack.

Mr Le Maire, a former agriculture minister, received just less than 29.2% and a third candidate, MP Herve Mariton 6.3%.

Mr Sarkozy posted a message to supporters on his Facebook page (in French).

“I would like to thank all the UMP members who did me the honour of electing me leader of our political family,” he said.

“Their mobilisation, at a level unequalled in the history of our movement, is the best response to two years of internal quarrels and divisions.”

Back in September, in his first interview since announcing his intention to return to politics, the thrice-married Sarkozy blasted President François Hollande’s socialist government for “humiliating families” by legalizing gay marriage. 

Sarkozy is widely expected to mount a campaign in the 2017 presidential election.


Kyler Geoffroy

www.towleroad.com/2014/11/former-french-president-nicolas-sarkozy-elected-opposition-leader.html

Gambian Government Says It Will Continue Persecuting Gays Regardless of Any Western Aid Cuts

Gambian Government Says It Will Continue Persecuting Gays Regardless of Any Western Aid Cuts

The gambia

The Gambian government has fired back at Western donor nations following the U.S. State Department’s condemnation of the West African nation’s new law imprisioning citizens for homosexual acts, the Associated Press reports:

JahumpaThe European Union and the United States recently expressed dismay at the law and discrimination against gay people in the West African country. Both provide aid to impoverishedGambia and have used that position to encourage respect for human rights.

The Gambian government will not allow acceptance of gay people to be a pre-condition for receiving aid “no matter how much aid is involved,” Foreign Minister Bala Garba Jahumpa said in a nationally televised addressed late Saturday.

“We are no longer going to entertain any dialogue on the issue with the European Union or any other foreign power,” he said.

Earlier this month, the AP reported that the new law:

…criminalizes “aggravated homosexuality,” which targets “serial offenders” and people living with HIV or AIDS. Suspects can also be charged with aggravated homosexuality for engaging in homosexual acts with someone who is under 18, disabled or who has been drugged. The term also applies when the suspect is the parent or guardian of the other person or is “in authority over” him or her.


Kyler Geoffroy

www.towleroad.com/2014/11/gambian-government-says-it-will-continue-persecuting-lgbt-people-regardless-of-any-western-aid-cuts.html